PuraVida37

Detox. That's what you and I both have to do. I am letting sugar sneak in and getting rid of it was the reason I lost so much, so why am I letting it sneak back in? First, I think you should tell your wife what you're doing. You are hiding and that is a bad habit of us overeaters. Next, stop carrying any money near you in the car. Getting out of the car to get your wallet (or purse for us ladies) can dissuade you just enough to help stop this addiction you've started. Lastly, revisit your nutritionist if you can.

I've never slimed or threw up, but I feel it when I eat too fast or too much. Like a not quite pain sensation, but definitely can feel the band. Debbie, I've been doing so well exercising that I gave myself permission to go crazy in the food dept. I've gained and lost the same 5 lbs since January. Well as of this morning, I am DONE. I made an appt for a fill next month, and if I don't get down those @#$%ing 5 lbs by then I am going to scream. LOL I am signing up for 5ks and for the first time in my life it's a joy to exercise. I love the feeling of just going til my my body says stop, but then going even a tiny bit more. I like the guidelines you made. I too am pledging to: 1. Exercise in some form every day. Not just the 4 days of running I've been doing. My arms are floppy and need attention, and the B shaped belly needs to go! Say goodbye muffin top, I'm going to attack you! 2. Take my Vitamins and log my food like I did when we started this journey. 3. Measure foods. No more eye balling. 4. No more Cheetos. They are the devil! 5. Use my CPAP again. I had gotten a new mask but didn't take the time to adjust it right, and then I took it off often while I was asleep. Time to get it going again. No quality sleep = no weight loss. I am "detoxing" today and tomorrow--protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch, dinner is meat and veg. I need to lose the salt Water weight and get the sugar out of my system. Good luck to everyone, especially Debbie, who has a lot on her plate, but will get back to the routine despite the challenges!

Go Arch, go!!!! Debbie, how is married life treating you? I hope all is well.

Check it!! I can do 28 min running on the treadmill! How are we doing, group? Let's not lose contact, please! This weekend I'm going to sign up for some 5Ks this spring and summer. I will RUN them. I can't believe it! This WLS has given me wings!! I haven't lost very much lately, but I'm still trying. I need another fill because I'm hungry, and I went through a "I love sliders" phase that is over now! Good riddance. Back to the program!

Try a sugar detox for a few days, or the reboot diet. GL!!!

You seem like you're going to do just fine!! When the weight starts to fall off you, you'll love that you had to be on the 6 weeks of liquids. Once you go without for a while, you won't miss it much. I don't miss bread anymore. It's just something I don't eat. I don't want it anymore. Stay strong!!

PS Just wanted to share that I made it to 25 min running this weekend, 4.3K. I'm almost to my 5k goal!

Debbie! You look awesome! Love the pics, esp the one where he is fist pumping as if to say Victory! LOL Great job on keeping it under control in such a tempting location! Congratulations once again!

I am at 3ccs total and can eat just about anything, though I think I'm doing pretty good not choosing to do that. I have lost only about 4 lbs each month since my ER visit, but my body is changing a lot. Also I'm up to 22 min straight of jogging! Some skinny people can't even do that! Woo hoo! I am well on my way to my goal of a 5k. I will probably get another fill of .5 in 3 weeks. But I say for me, better a slow loser than stuck episode. PS I went shopping again and am still amazed that I can fit into an XL. I don't even remember a time, even as a teen, that I didn't wear a 1X or more. I can't wait to lose a little more and shop til I drop!!

I don't have those problems currently, but I've experienced depression, but I have to tell you that I am so much happier and much less worrisome than before my surgery. I am finally focusing on me for the first time in many many years, and I have so much more energy and feel better (especially with lots of exercise--I never EVER thought I would love to exercise, but it makes me happy!). I wish you the best of luck and suggest that you make going to a bariatric support group a priority in your life. It will help you in many ways!!

Great work!!!!!!!!!

I just ate my lunch and it was so good that need to brag a little!! It was ground turkey tex mex chili with diced tomatoes and dark kidney Beans. I put on a little shredded cheese and had some avocado on the side. It was soooooooooooooo good, and I know it's super healthy! Just an idea for everybody!

Debbie, best wishes for your wedding!! So happy for you! Amy, how did it go?

Tonight I did what I thought was impossible! First, to put in in perspective: the Couch to 5k program starts you off with alternating 90 sec. walking with 60 sec jogging in week 1. I could barely make it one minute when I started!! Today I just finished week 5 day 3, which means I ran 20 SOLID minutes on the treadmill!!!!! I can't believe I did it, and it wasn't bad at all!! Just days ago I was struggling to finish 5 min blocks, then 8 min blocks. I was doing more than the people around me in the gym. I haven't ever felt that before! I nearly cried when I was done! But no, to Celebrate, since I had run 3.5K, I said screw it, and ran and walked even more and did the whole 5K tonight JUST FOR FUN. (Seriously, what's WRONG with me? LOL!!) I can't believe I've transformed so much in such a short time. The band has lightened me enough to find strength I've never known before. PS I called my brother, who has almost always been fit his whole life, even fit enough to run the NYC marathon several years ago, and he said that even he probably wouldn't be able to do 20 min right now. HA! Am I getting to be the fastest runner in my family? I can hardly believe it! I was always the slowest one. So I challenged him to do a 5K with me this summer. HA!!!! It's on!!

Brag time!!! Today I completed week 5 day 2 of my Couch to 5K program, which has you do a 5 min warm up walk, 8 min run, 5 min walk, then 8 min run again, then 5 min cool down. AND I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! It was hard: the 2nd block was not for wimps, but I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wooo hooo!! PS Week 5 Day 3 is a 20 min run. I will keep at it till I get it right!!

It's a great feeling!! Good job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mine growls a LOT!! I try to use it as a reminder to drink, instead of eat.

My port is under my belly button. The only problem I've had is early on when I slept on my side (which is my habit) it would hurt. Now it's fine, but when I do crunches, it's a little tender sometimes.

Yay!! Victory!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't be down! This is a great time to slowly start making the new habits you will need to incorporate into your new lifestyle! And it's never too early to start making healthier changes in your life--I lost 30 lbs before surgery, and it doesn't matter when you lose them, just THAT you lose them! LOL Also use this time to research more and stock up what you will need post-surgery. But I agree with the poster above: someone will have to bail because their insurance isn't lined up right, or they need to see a specialist about something, etc. Time will fly by! Get ready and good luck!

Some questions: Can you make an appointment for during Spring Break? You say you're not following all the rules...which are you following and which are you breaking? Why are you breaking some of the rules? (Emotional eating, not making good habits, or just because you're hungry?) Can you find a doctor more locally to you? I'm glad you don't want to give up! From what I read, the best thing about the band is that you can always start over!

You will continue to grieve the loss of some foods while on the pre-op diet, but that will be replaced with new friends: a feeling of lightness and pride, a craving for healthy foods, a disgust for unhealthy foods you used to eat, a desire to change your life! Hang in there, you will look back at this time and be amazed at how strong you really were. !! Keep up the good work !!

I've done that many times before in the past. Why? Why do we do that? It's like running the entire marathon and giving up 5 feet before the finish line. What is it in us that makes us self sabatoge?

That's a great idea! I didn't know you could donate that. Medicine is amazing.

Interesting questions on the survey. Good luck with your research. Let us know what your findings are.